West Palm Beach, FL - (by CRL Media) - Get ready for an evening packed with Aretha Franklin, who has sold 75 million albums over her remarkable career and won 18 Grammy Awards, deserving her title of "The Queen of Soul." "Curated by founder and musical director Luke S. Frazier, The American Pops Orchestra presents a musical tribute celebrating the legacy of music icon Aretha Franklin on December 22 at 8 pm at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Arts Scenic Tickets start at $ 25.
Featuring Grammy-nominated recording artist and Broadway star Deborah Cox from The Bodyguard's Broadway national tour, as well as The Voice's Rayshun LaMarr, Nova Payton and more. The American Pops Orchestra will perform some of the biggest hits of Aretha's career, including "A Natural Woman", "Chain of Fools", "Spanish Harlem", "Since You’ve Been Gone" and many more! This powerful concert will also feature four custom arrangements designed to highlight The American Pops Orchestra, including "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Angel."
How to buy tickets for this show:
Tickets are available for purchase online at www.kravis.org or by phone at 561.832.7469.
Health and safety protocols:
The Kravis Center remains committed to the health and safety of our artists, staff, audience, volunteers, and the public. Like many other performing arts centers across the country, we have implemented new health and safety protocols to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all who visit the Kravis. For more information on our current health and safety protocols, visit kravis.org/healthsafety
About Deborah Cox:
Deborah Cox is a Grammy-nominated recording artist and world-renowned talent in the world of music, Broadway, television, film, and fashion. With a career spanning over two decades, Deborah has released six critically acclaimed career albums, including her debut album, Deborah Cox (1995), One Wish (1998), The Morning After (2002), Remixed (2003). , Destination Moon (2007) and The Promise (2008). An established singer, Cox has climbed the R&B and pop charts with six R&B singles from Billboard magazine's top 20 and thirteen No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Dance Club playlist. In addition to her illustrious musical catalog, the Canadian-born star has been recognized and awarded for her unwavering commitment to various social justice initiatives.
About Luke Frazier:
Luke Frazier believes that the future of orchestral music is breaking down barriers between orchestras and audiences. He founded The American Pops Orchestra (APO) in 2015 to present a wide range of popular and classical music in innovative ways and attract new audiences to the orchestral world. Most recently, APO has appeared on more than 12 national broadcasts on PBS, with shows ranging from American Roots to a complete reinvention of the musical WICKED. Artists like Midori, Patti LaBelle, Joshua Bell, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Josh Groban and more have joined APO sharing orchestral music with audiences across the country, completely free of charge. In addition to Luke's work with APO and PBS, he maintains a busy schedule as a guest conductor and pianist. He also serves as lead conductor for the National Philharmonic's inaugural Pops. This season includes appearances at venues from Lincoln Center to The Smithsonian, Feinstein's / 54 Below to The Kravis Center and many more across the country, where Luke will conduct classical and popular music alike. For more information on Luke, visit: www.LukeFrazierMusic.com or @lukefraziermusic.
About The American Pops Orchestra (APO):
The American Pops Orchestra (APO) was founded in 2015 with a mission to breathe new life into orchestral pops programming and inspire diverse audiences to discover the richness of Great American Songbook material in new and dynamic ways. Seeing an opportunity to challenge the status quo of the repertoire played by an orchestra, founder and musical director Luke Frazier created The American Pops with the intention of breaking the mold of the traditional pop orchestra. This distinctly "American" new orchestra brings together versatile musicians and a revamped programming centered on the Great American Songbook, presenting it with a fresh and accessible twist to appeal to diverse audiences. Through non-traditional orchestral settings, APO aims to bring popular American classics to those who already know and love them, while also presenting these timeless pieces to younger generations in accessible settings. For more information, visit www.TheAmericanPops.org
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Kravis Center is a non-profit performing arts center located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. Kravis' mission is to improve the quality of life in Palm Beach County by featuring a diverse lineup of the highest quality national and international artists and companies and offering comprehensive arts education programs - serving more than three million students since its inception. ; provides a home in Palm Beach County for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work and also provides an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. For information, visit kravis.org or call the box office at 561.832.7469.